Arlington Grace Prep Logo.
COLLEYVILLE
The Arlington Grace Prep Lions erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning, cruising to a 9-2 victory over New Braunfels Allegiance in a non-district high school baseball contest Friday at the campus of Colleyville Covenant Christian.
The game was called, by mutual agreement between the two head coaches, after Grace Prep added three runs in the bottom of the sixth and had the bases loaded with no outs.
Grace Prep (13-4-1) was initially scheduled to face Colleyville Covenant Christian; however, due to Colleyville Covenant having some pitching injuries, it was not able to play the game. Grace Prep was able to schedule a replacement game against New Braunfels Allegiance, which was in the DFW area competing in a tournament this week.
The Lions sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, utilizing three hits — a double by Blair Walker and Jarvis Buchanan and Carson Lednicky singles — to go with two walks as well as a hit batsman and a pair of New Braunfels Allegiance errors to forge a quick 5-0 lead.
Buchanan laced a one-out single and came around on a two-out Colt Howard double as the Lions added another run in the bottom of the second.
After Allegiance pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth, Grace Prep used singles by Liam Jaime and Buchanan with three walks that produced three runs and the game was called.
Buchanan had three singles, scored two runs and drove in another to go with one stolen base the pace the Lions offensive attack.
Banks Harris tossed four shutout innings to pick up the win, scattering four hits, walking two and fanning five in the win. Howard came on to pitch the final two innings.
“The fast start was a big boost for us,” said Grace Prep head coach Clay Harris. “Got us off to a good start.”
Grace Prep has been adept on the basepaths this season, having swiped 60 bases in 68 attempts over 17 games entering this contest. The Lions added to that success stealing both of its attempts in the win over Allegiance. Buchanan and Landon Jones had one apiece.
“We’ve been an attacking team on the bases all season,” said Harris. “That has been a big part of our offense.”
Carter Smith and Jones each had two of the eight walks as Grace Prep showed a lot of patience at the plate.
Number 17 in the current THSB Private Large Schools rankings, Grace Prep could be moving up in that poll next week after a 4-3 victory over No 4 Fort Worth Christian earlier this week.
That came on the heels of an eight-inning 4-3 win over rival Arlington Pantego, which was No. 5 in the THSB Small Private School rankings, days earlier.
“Those two games against Pantego and Fort Worth Christian were huge wins for us,” said coach Harris. “Gave us a lot of confidence and momentum.”
Around the Fort Worth-area
The Fort Worth Country Day Falcons (4-2) hammered league opponent Greenhill 16-0 in a four-inning run-rule softball contest in an SPC matchup.
Boston College pledge, junior Maddie Richey surrendered just one hit over four innings while striking out eight.
Junior Ryleigh Hall, a Stephen F. Austin commit, was 2-3 with a walk-off home run that ended the game by rule. Hall finished with four RBIs.
Mary Evans Bumstead had three singles and three RBIs in the win.